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Jewish Midwives - Europe

“Jewish midwives generally maintained the high ethical standards expected
in Judaism and enjoyed good reputations. For example, in the Middle Ages
before the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492, Jewish midwives in Castile
and Aragon gained positions in the royal courts. In the eighteenth century,
Jewish midwives were actually sought by Gentiles in southern Holland in
preference to their own midwives because Jews gave priority to the mother's
life in a difficult delivery, whereas local Catholic doctors gave priority
to the baby’s life.”

From Michele Klein's A Time to be Born: Customs and
Folklore of Jewish Birth. Jewish Publication Society, 1998.